Nightmare Revisted: Album Review

As much as the Emo movement confuses me, I will admit that their fixation on my childhood favorites has somewhat delighted me. Namely: Invader Zim and Nightmare Before Christmas. Hot Topic is all abuzz with merchandise that connects with the 'darker sides' of these little lost/tortured suburban children, making me cringe with self-disdain as I wish all this marketing was around when I was in grade school (in the futile hopes that my favorite cartoon wouldn't have been CANCELED!).

Of this Emo-tastic movement, 2 albums have arisen that make the little, twisty girl inside me giggle with glee. The first in 2006 was the Special Edition Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack, with an utterly delightful disc 2 composed of several famous artists' covers of the beautiful music from the movie. Fiona Apple makes an amazing Sally, and the original demos are a bit fun to hear as well (for true, hardcore fans like myself).

It seems that the popularity of the disc 2 may have lead to Nightmare Revisited, an album released just this passed week. Mad Platter (in Riverside) was having a sale, and I couldn't resist picking it up. The album is definitley emo-friendly, but the talent contained on these tracks is universally enjoyable. The cast includes (but is not limited to) Korn, Plain White Ts, Rise Against, and All-American Rejects. Oddly enough, no one has redone the track 'This is Halloween.' Marilyn Manson's cover from the previously mentioned CD is also included in this new album, which is somewhat understandable. Manson is a hard act to follow and the song is essential to a complete collection. Gladly, its the only repeat on the 20 song album (click here to sample). If even a few of the artists went on a Nightmare Music Tour, I may suffer from multiple nerd-gasms in public.

My melancholic, pathetic Emo-children, your notable contributions to our ever growing mp3 collections have appeased me for now. I suggest you start pressuring Manson to cover The Doom Song before I grow weary of your presence and inflict my wrath upon your silly little souls. To all others, enjoy!